Time to spoil the party (part II) This has been a great season by recent Everton standards, three or four bad games aside we have been pretty good this season. We sit in fifth place with five games to go on merit. Only three teams have more Premier League wins than we do.
Then
I looked at the last five games of the season and those of Pompey and
Villa and even Sparky’s club and got a sinking feeling in my stomach.
Two difficult games against sides above us, one game with a UEFA
Cup hopeful and two against mid table cu_m relegation fodder. Normally I wouldn’t put it past us to get three wins a loss and a draw from that lot. This would put us on 70 points, pretty impressive and another huge step in the right direction.
Then I look at Pompey, particularly after their away win against the Hammers tonight. They have Toon, City, Blackburn , Boro and finish against Fulham. Even with the FA Cup you wouldn’t put it past Harry to snag four wins, even five isn’t that much of a stretch. That would see them with as many as 71 points.
Villa and
Blackburn are less of a threat and we can see of O’Neill’s men with a good win against them at Goodison.
Normally we have a bad game and move on, our current run of form is hardly good.
What worries me is the terrible run of performances recently. We started March with a great win over Pompey then played awful in Italy,
a win was a fair result in the North East and the 2-0 win against La
Viola at Goodison was magnificent; the penalty loss aside.
Seems like we left our heart in Europe .
They maybe our ‘bogey team’ but the loss to Fulham was really poor. Succumbing to the Hammers at home, ditto. The
Derby was really terrible, the first half we looked like a group of Sunday Leaguers. Then
we win against Derby , one of the worst teams to play top flight
English Football in ten odd years and we barely scrape by them, at home. This malaise has me more worried about teams below us overhauling us and us missing out on Europe next year. That concerns me much more than an almost hopeless chase for fourth.
Of course, I stay focused on Moysie and the lads and hope that we can win out and finish strong. We have had an excellent season that has so far exceeded realistic August
expectations and fifth place is in our own hands .
I just cannot help picturing Paula Radcliffe,
game and in a grand position for much of the race with an odd stride
that nobody else has and then someone overtakes her in the home stretch
or final bend and the fans all get behind her because they love a
gallant loser.
Excuse
me, I’m really fu_cking fed up of following a team of gallant losers,
following a team of ba_stard winners would be nice for a change.
Blue till I die.
Part one is on When Skies Are Grey for those who give a shiite!
Sunday afternoon; again; this time at The Stadium Of Light. The windy North East doesn’t trouble either
set of fans who turn up in good numbers and good voice. Wiley has a really poor game although unlike
the last howler he doesn’t call back a spurious John son goal. Kicking an Everton player whilst he is down,
pushing an Everton player to the floor in retaliation and going in for the
ankle and not the ball with studs showing on an Everton player are all deemed ‘nothing
much to worry about, eh lads?”
Apparently; so Hackett tells us; Wiley is one of the better Premier League
Officials.
Sunderland weren’t any good and really, neither were
Everton. Three points away with a poor
performance is always welcome.
It’s a long trip to Sunderland, not long enough to daunt the Everton fans
from making the trip. Everyone received a
warm Wearside welcome. The visitors are
hovering on the cusp of Europe and Sunderland are hovering on the cusp of relegation
so a win is vital, a point is OK and a loss isn’t catastrophic although the
season’s run in becomes just a little bit harder as a result. Keane is even generous enough to give a nod
to Everton’s progress under Moyes.
Keane makes changes from the side
that drew last week; the squad isn’t huge but has been doing well at home. Gordon keeps goal with a back four of Bardsley,
Nosworthy, Evans and Collins. The five
across the middle are Stokes, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Richardson and Murphy with
Jones ploughing the furrow alone up front.
The 451 gives you all the information you need to know about what Sunderland will try to do.
Moyes; fresh from two excellent
league performances and an awful UEFA Cup game goes with a positive 442. Howard keeps goal, Hibbert stays at right
back with Yobo and Jagielka in the centre and Lescott remains at left back. Arteta starts after injury, Neville sits in
the middle with Cahill and Pienaar occupies the left flank. Yakubu and John son partner up front. The 442 away from home against a team in
relegation trouble is duly noted.
"Come on lads, this is football not f. uc. kin' line dancing!" The Ugly SIster motivates the Blues (Royal that is!)
The first ten minutes is dull,
lacks skill, cohesion and any sort of goal threat. Wiley does pull back play when Lescott’s run
has taken him deep on the left with time and space to perhaps create
something.
A tired Everton set up to attack
are blunted by a dour Sunderland set up to
defend.
That’s the first half in a
nutshell.
Everton’s most potent threat is
the odd corner or a neat bit of ball work and skill when the players find
themselves in more than a yard of space without being closed down.
Lescott has a couple of shooting
chances but doesn’t fancy going for goal with his feet.
Cahill’s close range effort is
blocked by Bardsley onto the post and the rebound is headed over by John son;
this is off a flurry of late first half corners.
Nothing much in the way of
attacking for the men in Royal Blue or Red, White and Black.
Jagielka shows his pace as he
tracks back to prevent Jones from getting free on the right.
Jagielka comes a rare second in this round o####ood tussle that livened up a dull game.
The refereeing; or lack of
anything resembling skilful officiating; provides the first half talking
points.
Arteta is fouled and smothers the
ball with his arms and head. This doesn’t
mean anything to Stokes whose first kick catches a Spanish arm and who is
allowed a second kick which thankfully doesn’t connect with a face. Hardly worth a whistle and certainly not a
card.
Moyes must have given his charges
a right old fashioned bollocking at the half and Keane brings on the much more
talented Chopra to replace Stokes.
A good early Sunderland chance is
created when Neville is lazy in the middle and allows Richardson to nick the ball, and then Hibbert’s
awful clearance allows Murphy the opportunity to cross. The wide player whips in a lovely ball for
Jones and Lescott has to be strong to protect his goal.
Murphy delivers a neat near post
cross which forces Howard to be alert although nothing is really testing the
big American, defensive snafus are giving him more problems than anything Sunderland muster.
Everton get a goal after some decent
pressure was capitalized on. The tempo
increased from the away side, two fluffed clearances help to maintain it; first
by Leadbitter to concede a soft throw in and secondly from Collins to concede
possession deep inside his own half; why he didn’t smack it into row Z I don’t
know.
"This time the bast-ard in the black can't possibly give me offside, can he?" AJ worries about Wiley.
A poor Hibbert cross is beaten
away and falls to Collins who’ remarkably’ doesn’t hoof it upfield. His pass is intercepted by Yakubu who turns,
looks up and plays a great ball to the penalty spot, Cahill’s leap is only
sufficient to take the ball away from Pienaar at the back post. The South African manages to retain the ball
and keeps it simple with a layback to Arteta, the Spaniard whips in a ball to
the near post which glances of John son’s elbow beyond Gordon.
Sunderland's whole season captured in just one image!
"This one is for you Mags!"
Several replays later the
commentators notice it’s not actually a headed goal, more of an armed
goal. Johnson gets the benefit of being
in the right place at the right time and seals the win.
Heaven is painted Royal Fu. Ck. Ing Blue!
Everton never really look like
getting a second whilst Keane’s changes sting some action into Sunderland who come closest to getting a goal.
Lack of quality and tiredness and
one world class save keeps the score at nil one.
Murphy shows more good skill with
another good cross from the left and then comes off for Reid who doesn’t deliver
one telling ball into the box for the rest of the game.
Nosworthy denies Johnson from a
corner kick and Hibbert does well to stifle the resultant break which sees
Everton well out numbered.
Jagielka makes a double block in
the area after a lovely reverse ball from Prica finds Chopra. The Swede doesn’t do much else in the
game.
The best of the game; from both
sides; comes right at the death.
Anichebe makes a clumsy challenge and gives Sunderland
a free kick in a dangerous area. Reid’s
delivery curls neatly over the wall and looks to be going under the bar, Howard
manages to adjust his flight and reaches up to tip the ball behind. Good free kick and great save.
"Right Jack, this is called a Wall, now just stand there and pretend to be a brick!"
Phil passes on his vast experience to sixteen year old Premier League debutant, Jack Rodwell.
Sunderland
played like a team in the bottom reaches of the Premier League, tough, gritty,
flashes of neat play but on the whole a lot more endeavour than skill.
Played to the tune of Olivia Newtron Bomb - Let's Get Physical!
Everton played tired and lacked
much skill on the ball; they had the extra gear and the skill to worry Sunderland and got a good break on the goal. Defensively they were good and just didn’t
ever test Gordon when going forward. An
away win at this stage of the season is priceless.
"THE UNDERTAKER! WINS UGLY AGAIN!"
David Moyes is fiercly jubilant after a tough old win at Sunderland!
Wiley. Another poor game for the Staffordshire
official.
You can cut him some slack for
awarding a spurious goal, perhaps.
Awarding Bardsley a yellow for a
reckless lunge on Pienaar is awful refereeing.
Unlike in the Laws of the game as
defined by FIFA the laws of the game as applied by Alan Wiley allow one player
to push another player to the ground in retaliation of a tackle and merely get a
talking to.
If the ball is under a player’s
face it’s OK to kick for the ball.
A flying; kuyt inspired; studs up
lunge which is half a yard from the ball is merely a yellow, the player walked
off so it’s really just one of those things.
Diving Spaniards are good for the
game.
On his way to the grass after the faintest of touches...again!
Alan Wiley displaying that infamous fairness he always displays when faced with Royal Blue shirts!
"I'm a little teapot short and stout One arm in and one arm out One for the handle One for the spout Tip me over and the tea pours out"
Alan Wiley gets musical after downing a couple of stiff ones before his last Everton game.
THE
match officials who deprived Everton of the chance to strengthen their
grip on fourth place against Blackburn Rovers have been punished for
their errors.
Referee Alan Wiley, who failed to show David
Dunn a second yellow card for deliberate handball and never pointed to
the spot when Andrew Johnson was fouled by Zurab Khizanishvili, will
not be allowed to take charge o####ame this weekend.
Sunday afternoon at Goodison
Park. Hardly the proper time for football but
nonetheless. Tense game with some
expansive and beautiful Everton play.
Pompey’s very own Diddy man evades his markers to grab an equalizer for
the visitors and the home side is discombobulated for a while. Normal service resumes and Tiny Tim gets
Everton’s second whilst the Yak scores the third of the game and his eighteenth
of the season.
A convoluted trip limits the
number of away fans although the home fans turn up in decent numbers for what
is a European six pointer. The weather
and pitch are fine and the Panto Dame predicts a bore draw. Hardly serious football journalism from Lawro
when both sides have only managed two (home/away) draws from league play this
season. The stakes are high and at both
teams are unbeaten in three so something has to give.
Moyes is starting to encounter
the problems of having a full and functioning squad coupled with the need to
drop or change players. Difficult but a
nice problem to have.
Howard keeps goal, Hibbert occupies
the right back berth after a solid performance against Petrov, Yobo and
Jagielka continue their strong partnership in the centre and Lescott stays at
left back. Carsley and Neville sit deep
with Pienaar Osman and Cahill getting licenses to attack with Yakubu as the
main forward. This is very firmly an
attacking 4 5 1.
"IT'S OK LADS! MOST OF THEM ARE ONLY THIS TALL!"
DAVID JAMES ON THE MIDGET GEMS!
Redknapp has plenty to chose from
and opts for a large 4 5 1. James
continues his long streak in goal the back four has the energy at the flanks in
John son and Hreidarsson and solidity in the middle with Campbell and Distin. Strung across the middle are Bouba Diop,
Diarra, Muntari and Krancjar with Defoe and Kanu up front as a little and large
partnership.
"IS THE BIG GUY ENGLISH?"
CAPELLO, HOT OF THE HELICOPTER FROM BOLTON.
PLENTY OF ENGLISH TALENT ON SHOW!
Before Capello has even taken his
seat (the Italian is hot off the helicopter after watching Bolton
lose) Yakubu has duly scored the opener.
A brisk Everton attack and a clumsy challenge see Pienaar deliver a
nothing ball into the area. Distin is
too slow, John son just watches and the rest of the defence barely moves as
Yobo flicks the ball on for his countryman to stoop and head beyond James. Clocked at fifty seconds.
"FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!"
JOHN SON AND JAMES CAN DO NOTHING TO STOP NUMBER SEVENTEEN
Before it’s even begun the game
has turned into a major challenge for Portsmouth. One which in the first half they barely rise to.
Huge swathes of the first half
see some delightful Everton passing and movement which bamboozles and befuddles
Pompey.
My highlight is Pienaar and Cahill
passing to each other as they advance down the left ignorant (seemingly) of the
Pompey defenders they leave for dead.
Nothing comes of all the fancy footwork but a few good saves and
clearances from a stout Pompey back line or a wayward strike from Phil
Neville.
Osman and Cahill have chances and
James gets away with one of his trademark Calamity’s ™.
The Everton player with the
hottest boots is Irish; Carsley has a free kick and two more chances, none of which
find the target.
"EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING
THOSE GUYS ARE FAST AS LIGHTENING
SOMETIMES IT'S A WAS LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING
EVERYBODY IS KUNG FU FUGHTING
LA LA LA LAAH!"
THE KUNG FU OF KUYT IS PRACTISED AGAIN AT GOODISON PARK.
John son skinned Pienaar early on
but produced a poor cross and Kranjcar briefly sputtered into life in a half
that until the thirty eighth minutes the visitors looked practically dead and
buried as they foundered on a calmly wonderful Everton back six.
The ground goes into that stunned
away goal silence when from out of the blue John son lays in a lovely ball
which Howard should be rushing off his line to claim. The big yank doesn’t and the little Englishman
slips between two vastly bigger but static defenders to graze the ball with the
faintest of touches beyond a flailing Howard for the equalizer.
Who picked up Defoe’s run and why
didn’t Howard move. For a normally solid
defence that was shocking.
"SILENCE IS GOLDEN"
UNLESS IT'S THAT GHASTLY SILENCE THAT FOLLOWS AN AWAY GOAL
POMPEY'S VERY OWN MIDGET GEM GETS AN UNEXPECTED EQUALIZER.
Everton still press in the last
five but some of the conviction has slipped from their play.
Moyes keeps things the same and
Harry must have given some sort of fire-breathing-barnstorming-Churchillean
monologue to inspire his players.
The visitors emerged from the
tunnel with their proverbial tails up, Defoe and Yakubu were swapping goal
celebrations and everyone was happy.
Ten minutes into the half and
Everton had barely gotten into second gear.
The champagne had gone flat and it took a determined team effort to haul
their sorry arses back into the game, they were just getting going and starting
to move forward with some purpose when the key managerial input came.
Moyes switched to a 4 4 2 and
brought off Hibbert for John son, Neville slotted in to the right back role and
John son caused immediate mayhem.
A rapid and ball hungry outlet
pulled the Pompey defence all over the park.
The interplay between the front
two was nice to see and effective, Pompey retreated back into their shell and
even the addition of Utaka’s pace and skill made little difference to the
Blues’ dominance.
Things were still tense though as
without a goal Pompey could sneak one or the game could end drawn.
Tensions eased and the noise
level rose after some neat play on the left produced a classic Cahill headed
goal.
SOMEWHERE IN TIM CAHILL'S LINEAGE IS A WALLABY!
THE EXCELLENT OZZIE LEAPS TO GET HIS TENTH OF THE SEASON
The Australian played a ball out
to the left from deep, Yakubu got on the end of it and played in Pienaar, the
South African whose crosses the ball into the six yard box, Cahill has
continued his run and not been picked up and rose magnificently to bury one,
his tenth of the year.
John son scored but the goal was
called back for a tight offside and James had another Calamity ™ yet got way
with it.
The icing on the cake (albeit not
a clean sheet) was Yakubu’s second goal.
Portsmouth lost the ball in the Everton
half and John son picked up the clearance, his crossfield ball flew fourty
yards and caught Campbell in an indecisive mood,
the ex-Gunner let the ball go behind him and the Yak took the gift, turned Campbell inside around and
hammered the ball beyond a stunned James.
FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE!
NUMBER EIGTHEEN IS ABOUT TO BEAT JAMES AFTER YAKUBU BAMBOOZLES CAMPBELL.
Everton finished
professionally.
Everton played well; they dug
themselves a hole, blundered around in it for a while before pulling themselves
out of it and playing even better.
Happy with the goals, unhappy
with equalizer and the twenty minutes of mental lethargy.
Happiest with the mental
toughness that turned the game around in the second half.
Loved the changed from 4 5 1 to 4
4 2.
EXHIBIT B - HOW BEING A FOOTBALL MANAGER WILL SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR COMPLEXION!
The first half was an intimate
exercise; football in microsm; play well but don’t score and you leave yourself
vulnerable.
2008 is becoming a good year for
Everton in the Premier League.
Seems the defeats in the two domestic
cups were forgotten in the cold of Norway and the team was celebrated
in the six-one European Night.
Thursday will be the toughest
test for the team of the season so far.
Fiorentina are good, hungry, and unfamiliar. To repeat the efforts and enjoy the
performances of the 1984/85 season the team needs to play very well against one
of Italy’s
best sides. Tough but eminently
dooable. COYB
Pompey weren’t in the game for
long periods but could have gotten three points.
"OIY LADS! QUICK! OVER 'ERE - LOOKS LIKE HARRY"S GOING FOR THE HIGH NOTE!" MR REDKNAPP's URGING HIS TEAM ON WITH SONG!
On small things games turn, for
example Defoe. On another day Pompey
score a second and kill the game. Today
they weren’t good enough to do that but good enough to frustrate and get at
Everton without causing Howard too many worries.
Mariner. Pretty good game lah!
Note to Andre: check the video of
the game, notice that Distin had his arms all over Lescott whilst holding him
down, and notice the pushes John son applied at crucial moments to Lescott and
Yakubu. All three offences happened in
the penalty area. Penalties, maybe I’m
not an expert, I’m just mentioning them in case you didn’t see them.
Wow! Another game for La Viola
involving a wow! This time Prandelli’s
charges manage to beat Juventus in Turin
in a blinder o####ame. Five goals,
brilliant play, tactical shenanigans and edge of the seat excitement. Oh and that is the team the Blues is going to
play on Thursday.
The Stadio Olimpico in Turin is ripe for a tough
European six pointer. With Milan only managing a draw
and Roma winning three points is vital in the hunt for the prime European
spots. A decent and vocal crowd and high
expectations greeted the opening whistle.
Ranierii’s eleven is still
missing some key pieces in the middle and at the back, although still strong. Buffon comes into the ‘keepers spot with a
makeshift back four of Zebina, Legrottaglie, Grygera and Molinaro. Midfield sees Camoranesi and Palladino provide
the attacking flair with Sissoko and Zanetti providing the solidity. Del Piero and Trezeguet partner up
front.
Prandelli; without star forward
and with a UEFA Cup Night in midweek still picks an attacking eleven.
Frey retains the ‘keeper’s jersey
and has a familiar; if not first choice; back four in front of him of Ujfalusi
and Gobbi wide with Gamberini and Kroldrup in the middle. Kuzmanovic, Donadel and Montolivo make up the
midfield with Pazzini leading a three man attack flanked by Santana on the
right and top notch utility player Jorgenson on the left.
Juventus start off sharpish in an
open game, Kuzmanovic almost buries Santana’s cross and Zebina almost finishes
a move he starts with a header just over Frey’s bar.
Fiorentina lay it out and make
you beat them, they play the same home and away and don’t change much as they
profess to be ‘unable to protect a lead’.
They get the ball out wide and
aim for dangerous crosses or cutting runs into the area with midfielders coming late in
support.
Juventus are crossers too and
they also like to play it quickly forward through the middle.
The game unfolds kindly for a
hard working and ebullient Fiorentina, Santana’s runs causing Molinaro all
sorts of problems, Pazzini is a handful for a less than solid back four and
Fiorentina push up or drop back very well as a team. La Viola’s runs at Juve cause all sorts of
problems, Buffon has to be at his best when he’s clearly not 100%.
Another direct run and a lovely one
two sees Gobbi beat Buffon for the opener.
Pushing up from the right back berth the midfielder uses Jorgenson as a
foil before a continuation of his run, a static Juve defence and a great return
from the Dane combine well and a neat finish bulges the back of the net.
More of the same without actually
scoring fills the next ten minutes.
Juve are struggling to mount
meaningful attacks and seeing little of the ball. A free kick from the left sees Frey flail
weakly at the ball in, it drops kindly to Sissoko who uses his Kuyt inspired
Kung Fu and beats Frey with a spectacular overhead kick.
Fiorentina’s fragility comes to
the fore, they still go forward but lack the edge they had in the first half
and Juventus gradually neutralize the threat and finish the half even on honours
and possession. The stalemate continues
into the second half without either team threatening greatly.
Juve look most dangerous
exploiting the space on the break and some tweaking from the bench moves some
players around and pays handsome dividends.
Palladino; exerting more
influence as the game wears on; plays in Molinaro on the right, his back post
cross confuses the Viola centre backs and allows Camoranesi the opportunity to volley
a scorcher in for a two-one lead.
Fragility and glass jaws aside Fiorentina
keep on plugging. Prandelli makes some
astute changes and Osvaldo gets his shot (courtesy of Ujfalusi and the
utilitarian nature of Jorgenson who slots into the right back role!) and the
trickery of Santana is swapped for the pace of Papa Waigo.
Ranierii shuts up shop with the
removal if Camoranesi for Nocerino and he swaps guile for size when Del Piero
is replaced by Iaquinta.
Fiorentina keep attacking and
Juventus keep defending, surely they can hold on at home for another twenty
minutes.
The Bianconeri are woefully
mistaken.
Osvaldo runs at Juve and the
loose ball bounces for Pazzini, he lays it intelligently wide to Papa Waigo who
is given time to take the three touches he needs to slot it beyond Buffon.
Fiorentina keep attacking and
Juventus keep defending, surely they can hold on at home for another fifteen
minutes. Iaquinta had a free kick go
just wide.
The Bianconeri are woefully
mistaken.
La Viola just doesn’t quit, they
may slow up a little but they just keep on attacking. The two substitutes combine again to bag the
injury time winner. Papa Waigo’s pace
allows him some space on the right and he crosses well for Osvaldo to head past
Buffon at the near post.
Ranierii has seen his side slump
to one point in three games and seen Fiorentina close the points gap. Injuries have been a factor but shutting up
shop and then conceding two late on is shoddy at best. The Bianconeri can complain about cheats and
punishment all they want, they have a fine squad, good players and a good
manager, they just aren’t playing as well as they can recently.
Prandelli will be fashionably
delighted. Smart changes freshen up his
side and his tactics were carried out in exemplary fashion by his players. The side is still not at full strength yet
worked hard and created much. La Viola
are young side sprinkled with experience and style. They play a good brand of football with some
good energy and commitment. Five years ago
they were defunct and now they have climbed back into the upper echelons of
Serie A and Europe. They are always susceptible when ahead but do
score freely.
Expect that at home on Thursday
night they play with the same attacking and committed 4 3 3 against Everton; even
though the personnel will be different
"PAVEL! NO!" FRUSTRATED WITH HIS LACK OF SCORING CZECH WINGER NEDVED GOES ALL GIRLY!
"SORRY GIGI, I JUST COULDN'T TAKE THE MONEY FROM MORRATI" SERENI AND BUFFON EXCHANGE PLEASANTRIES AFTER BOTH KEEPING CLEAN SHEETS IN TURIN
"EY OOP! PLANT LEAD FOOT TWO THREE! FOLLOW THROUGH WITH OTHE FOOT TWO THREE! STRIKE BALL AMAZINGLY HARD! TWO THREE! WHEEL AWAY AND SAY HELLO TO MY CROCKED MATE RONNIE TWO THREE FOUR! BRAZILIAN BRILLANCE! QUACK!
"ANYTHING A DUCK CAN DO AN ELEFANT CAN DO JUST AS WELL!" SPINESI GETS THE EQUALIZER FOR CATANIA
"I'M SCORING ON A JET PLANE! DON"T KNOW WHEN I WILL SCORE AGAIN! SO DON'T EVER LET ME GO!" PAPA WAIGO SALUTES JIMBO, MONTELLA AND JOEY AFTER HE BAGS THE WINNER FOR FIORENTINA!
TOTTI SALUTES NICKY LAUDA AND JOAN COLLINS AFTER HE PUTS ROMA IN FRONT IN MILAN!
MAXWELL TUCKS IT BACK INTO HIS SOCK AFTER IT GETS STEPPED ON AT THE SAN SIRO!
"YOU CAN GO INTO YOUR GALLIC HISTRIONICS ALL YOU WANT LAD. LOOK AT MY HAND. IT CONTAINS A CARD. ITS RED. WHAT DO LITTLE BOYS DO WHEN THEY SEE RED?"
"VOUS FOUTU BÂTARD ITALIEN DE FRAUDE ! NE POUVEZ-VOUS PAS VOIR LA
CHATTE ARGENTINE DE FRAUDE AVEZ-VOUS PLONGÉ ? I"m ALLANT TROUVER OÙ
VOUS AIMEZ ET CHIEZ PAR VOTRE BOÎTE De LETTRE VOUS FILS D'une
CHIENNE"
MEXES AND ROSSETTI EXCHANGE PLEASANTRIES AFTER INTER GET ANOTHER REFEREEING DECISION GO THEIR WAY
"WERE SO EXCITED! AND WE JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! WE'RE ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL AND WE JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!"
PELE, CHIVU AND ZANETTI DO THEIR INFAMOUS POINTER SISTERS IMPERSONATION!
Let’s talk La Viola, ACF Fiorentina, the Serie A side from Florence. They play Everton in the last sixteen of the
UEFA Cup and currently sit a lofty fourth in Serie A.
CESAR PRANDELLI
Cesare Prandelli was the manager
at AS Roma before personal issues forced his resignation. He re-emerged at Fiorentina and has been
quietly building a team in Florence. He turned La Viola from relegation strugglers
into a fourth place team, scandal hit and they were striped of the Champions
League place and 15 points. Despite the
docked points Prandelli managed a very creditable fifth in the 06/07 season and
a UEFA Cup spot. 2007/08 has seen his
side well up the table and doing well in the UEFA Cup. He is a fashionista and has had to deal with
the death of his wife this season.
WHAT HAS FIORENTINA DONE THIS SEASON?
This Viola side has a lot more in
common with Everton than does a Svennaisannced
Manchester City,
perhaps.
Fiorentina has managed the last
sixteen of the UEFA Cup with wins the following.
Groningen on penalties in the first round.
In the group stages they faced Villarreal
(A), Effsborg (H), AEK Athens (A) and Mlada Boleslav (H) and came away with two
wins and two draws; they scored ten and let in four.
They comfortably beat Rosenborg
home and away.
In Serie A
They’ve played well, sometimes
poorly and sometimes spectacularly.
Similar to Everton they haven’t beaten the top sides (Milan, Inter and Juventus) this season but
have managed a few good draws. They
travel well and Mutu is in the race for the capponcanoniere award.
They aren’t exactly a hard or
tough team (at least they don’t get many cards) and they like to attack. Criticism of them talks about a ‘glass jaw’
and not knowing how to defend for long periods.
WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT CAN THEY DO?
Frey (FRA) – excellent
‘keeper. Will be the first choice for
the national side in a year or two.
Dainelli (ITA) – Mainstay of La
Viola’s defence, good solid centre back.
Ujfalusi (CZH) – right back
(plays in the centre for the Czech
Republic). Better going forward than defending, particularly
when pace is involved.
Gamberini (ITA) – solid centre
back and probably see action in Euro08.
Kroldrup (DEN) – big good and
works well with Gamberini – he’ll be making a return to his previous club and
no love will have been lost at all.
Potenza (ITA) – promising youngster with
limited opportunities at Fiorentina, definitely one for the future.
Pasqual (ITA) a left back, who
can play further forward, gives Fiorentina a good crosser and willing runner
who likes to take free kicks and corners.
Da Costa (POR) – a youth prospect
– unlikely to figure
Donadel (ITA) – creative
midfielder for Prandelli, can spread the ball about from deep or from the
flanks.
Semioli (ITA) – mostly wide right
in either the middle or in a three man attack, great crosser of the ball.
Liverani (ITA) – can play wide
left or in the middle, very creative with a good range of passing and a nice
turn of speed.
Montolivo (ITA) – creative
youngster, most used from the bench.
Gobbi (ITA) – utility player,
really a midfielder and much more comfortable in that position.
Kuzmanovic (SUI)– young midfield
starlet. Pace and plenty of energy, good
box to box and doesn’t really have a pair of scoring boots.
Jorgenson (DEN)– Utility and then
some, will fit in to any position and do a decent job.
Santana (ARG) – right sided
midfielder with attacking intentions, good pace, movement and trickery with a
good cross.
Mutu (ROM ) – Fiorentina’s main
goal threat and a potent weapon. Scores
from anywhere and comes off the flanks well.
A good lone striker or when paired with others. Cappocanoiere potential with 14 Serie A goals
on the season
Vieri (ITA) – wily veteran who
may have lost some pace, he still has a bagful of tricks and is a good target
man with an excellent positional sense.
Pazzini (ITA) – a great foil for
Mutu and having a wonderful season so far.
Pacy and athletic he can play wide or through the middle.
Papa Wiago (SEN) – new signing
and primarily a wide player, will fit into Fiorentina’s 4 3 3 quite well.
Cacia (ITA) – young forward who
can come of the bench and do a decent job.
Osvaldo (ARG) – new to Fiorentina
but already an impact player, pacy goal hanger.
WHAT FORMATION AND WHAT PLAYERS?
Typically Prandelli will go with
a 4 3 3 (although not the same sort of 4 3 3 that Grant uses at Chelsea).
If he has all his players
available then this is what I would suggest could be his starting eleven.
GK – Frey
RB – Ujfalusi
CB – Dainelli
CB – Gamberini
LB – Pasqual
RM – Semioli
CM – Kuzmanovic
LM – Donadel
CF – Semioli
CF - Mutu
CF - Pazzini
Bench –
Kroldrup
Montolivo
Liverani
Jorgenson
Vieri
Santana
FIORENTINA’S NEXT OPPONENTS
Fiorentina play strugglers
Livorno On Wednesday and then a tough trip to Turin to play the Bianconeri. Then they welcome the Blues.
Oop the East Lancs Road
for a jaunt to the Eastlands Stadium.
Cra ppy weather in Manchester (no change
there then really), and some pretty cra ppy football from Manchester City. Everton played very well and ran out fairly
comfortable two goal winners. Howard
gets tested late, Hibbo stifles Petrov, Elano is cr ap, Benjani is AWOL in the
second half and we have a red for the petulant Bulgarian. Stiles, well some quite good and some pretty
awful.
Short trip North East ensures a
good away turnout in Manchester. The weather didn’t douse the fans’ enthusiasm
or voices. Spark is added to the match
with Everton old boys Dunne and Ball playing for City and the stadium is a
regular haven for managers and ex managers.
Taking a pew are Big Sam, Peter Reid, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Fabio
Capello. On the pitch it’s a European
six pointer.
Moyes changes the side that
thrashed SK Brann and opts for a familiar 4 4 1 1. Howard keeps goal, Hibbert slots in at right
back, Yobo, Jagielka and Lescott operate to his left. Carsley and Neville sit deep with Pienaar
Osman and Cahill getting licenses to attack with Yakubu as the main forward. Some might call this 4 2 3 1 or 4 5 1 or 4 2
2 1, really just ignore them.
A SCOT AND A SWEDE WATCH THE BLUE ACTION AT EASTLANDS!
Hard to change a winning team so
Sven doesn’t. The Swede selects the same
eleven that beat Manchester United. Hart
keeps goal with a back four of Onuoha, Richards, Dunne and Ball, the five man
midfield is Petrov, Ireland, Fernandes, Hamman, Vassel
with Benjani up front on his own. A
pretty standard 4 5 1, although perhaps best suited to the away side.
City starts off on the front foot
and gets nowhere. All half they had
plenty of possession and did nothing with it, Howard had to come and punch or
claim a few balls but didn’t have to save.
Everton defended thirty yards out and a narrow City just kept mindlessly
bashing up against a blue wall.
City’s best cross came just
before the interval when Fernandes whipped a ball between Howard and the
defenders, Benjani spent too much time wondering what it was and the chance
went.
The visitors threatened Hart all
the first half, crisply bringing the ball out of defence or from a ball won in
midfield and going straight at City with pace and bags of ideas.
Richards probably didn’t give
Everton it’s first penalty of the Premier League season as Stiles was blind or
just unsighted.
Hart saves well from Yakubu at
the near post.
Pienaar hits the bar.
Finally the traveling fans get
their goal. Feed the Yak and he Will
Score!
A deep throw in down the right
comes infield to Yakubu, Cahill’s running off Hamman finds the diminutive Ozzie
in space, he beats the first man and whips a cross through the legs of the
second, Yakubu had continued his run and finishes with clarity and clamness
over Hart. Great move, super finish and
a well earned 0-1.
FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE - THAT'S SIXTEEN FOR THE SEASON SO FAR!
City’s response, Petrov; stifled
all night by Hibbert; blast one wide from twenty five yards.
Carsley is feeling up for the
game and starts an attack from his own half, he is fouled by Hamman on the edge
of the area and Stiles is just poor.
Everton keep cutting through the
City midfield and back line and win a corner, it goes way too long and the
Irishman is a willing runner. Carsley
looks up and lobs a ball to wards the back post, Dunne and Hart are ball
watching as Lescott adds to his excellent tally for the season with a neatly
finished looping header back over Hart and into the far corner. Sloppy defending seals the game.
GOAL SCORER AND GOAL PROVIDER CELEBRATE THE FORMER WOLVES DEFENDER'S EIGHGTH OF THE SEASON!
Eriksson removes Hamman; well
played by Cahill; and opts for the more fluid attacking verve of the Brazilian,
Elano. Moyes keeps his side the same,
just asks them to sit a little and take the pace out of the game.
Ball’s challenge prevents Cahill
from giving Everton and early 0-3 lead after good work with Yakubu off a throw
in.
City mount some pressure but
continue to be easy to defend, they lack width, Elano and Petrov aren’t
delivering good balls into the area, Benjani is barely a threat and the
substitutions don’t really change much.
It’s only in the final ten minutes when City start to try playground
football that Howard actually has some saves to make.
Mexican Castillo gets onto a
loose ball and fires through a crowd, Howard gets down well and Jagielka
clears.
Petrov fires one straight at
Howard, meat and drink.
A cross sees Howard punch the
ball against Benjani, Jagielka clears the loose ball.
Other than one Dunne chance; off
a dodgy free kick decision that Petrov delivered well; City were pretty dire
really.
Everton continued to threaten and
defend extremely well, Jagielka being outstanding alongside Yobo.
Pienaar is replaced by Fernandes
who is in turn replaced by JJohn son, perhaps worrying Moyes in terms of
upcoming games with Carsley suspended after a fifth Yellow.
JJohn son and the Yak had half
chances but Everton’s best second half chance fell to Carsley, the midfielder
took advantage of Stiles’ play on call and walloped the ball goalwards before
City had even organized a wall, Hart was equal to the shot and parried it
over.
Petrov’s petulance lands him in
hot water at the end of the match, an odd whistle from Stiles; although play
still goes on; see Yakubu run away from the Bulgarian who aims a kick at the
Nigerian. Nothing is given for that one. Almost at the end of the game Petrov looses
out to Osman and tries to play some footsie with the back of Osman’s calf.
Stiles thinks, “EH! I CAN GET IN THE HEADLINES TOMORROW LETS GIVE HIM A
STRAIGHT RED!” and dishes out an automatic three match ban. Even I thought it a bit harsh and I support
Everton.
PETROV TAKES AN EARLY BATH!
Everton outplayed and out thought
City in every department tonight. Bloody
brilliant performance from a team full of beans (‘swagger’ as Tim Sherwood
describes it). Threatening goals all
game and solid at the back, it could have been three or four nil instead of just
two nil. Many this season have talked
about how the team is pretty ‘workmanlike’ without Arteta. No Arteta tonight and hardly workmanlike!
Beating Manchester United was a
bit flukey and it showed. City tried
exactly the same stuff that didn’t work at Goodison and got beat. Substitutions didn’t work and moving from a 4
5 1 through to something resembling a 1 1 8 in the final minutes they still
barely troubled the visitors. Pretty
poor in all areas of the pitch. What can
be done to stop this malaise at home?
Stiles, headline grabbing
arse! He can play a good advantage
sometimes! How can the man who has given
more penalties than any other Premier League referee not point to the spot at
least once tonight? Burley slaughtered
him and I pretty much agree with most of what the Scot said. Still at the end of the day even cra ppy
refereeing couldn’t deny a thoroughly enjoyable win.
"AS EASY AS SCORING WITH DEL PIERO'S WIFE!" THE BIANCONERI LOOK FOR SOME WAY TO BLAME THE REFEREE FOR THE FIRST GOAL THEY CONCEDED IN REGIO CALABRIA. MOST PEOPLE WOULD CALL IT, "SHIITE DEFENDING!"
"TAKE THAT!" DEL PIERO'S SOFT SHOT IS UNFEASIBLY LET IN BY CAMPAGNOLO
"PRIMAVERA LA PELOTTA, SECUNDO L'HOMBRE!" VALDEZ CLEANLY WIN THE BALL FROM SISSOKO WHO THEN FLOPS OVER THE URUGUAYANS OUTSTRECHED LEG. GOOD DECISION REFEREE.
THE MALIAN VERSION OF THE LOTUS BLOSSOM FLYING HEAD KICK!
"HEY ALESSANDRO, THE GOAL, SHE OPEN UP TO ME JUST LIKE YOUR WIFE DID LAST NIGHT!' NICOLA AMARUSO SCORES THE WINNER FROM THE SPOT.
"IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT RAISE YOUR HANDS! IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT AND YOU REALLY WANT TO SHOW IT IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT SMASH A GREAT GOAL IN AGAINST THOSE PREGNANT GOLDFISH FROM MILAN!"
"RIGHT LADS! WE MAY HAVE THROWN AWAY TWO POINTS BUT LATER ON WE'LL GET THOSE NASTY LITTLE BLUCERCHIATI IN THE SHOWERS!" CRESPO IS FIESTY AFTER NABBING THE EQUALIZER FOR INTER.
'NO NO NO NO NO! THAT'S NOT HOW YOU DO YMCA! TONETTO AND CICINHO SWAP DANCE MOVES IN ROME
'"DO YOU SEE ME ALEX! DO YOU WATCH MY GOALS! TELL ME YOU TOMATO FACED SCOTTISH ####, HOW MANY EUROPEAN GOALS HAVE YOU SCORED?" BORN OFFSIDE, HARDLY
'EH GRANDAD! IF I'VE TOLD YOU ONCE I'VE TOLD YOU A THOUSAND TIMES, DON'T COME ASKING ME FOR ANOTHER BOTTLE OF BOOZE WHILST I'M WORKING!" ERRANT RELATIVES IS THE LEAST OF THE REFEREE'S PROBLEMS AFTER TWO DISPUTED PENALTY DECISIONS.
Wow! Great game in Rome. Roma produce everything from the sublime to
the ridiculous whilst Fiorentina struggle to cope with a rejigged side, they
threaten on occasion, more so than Roma in the first half
Italy’s capital bathed in Sunshine
and adorned with the red of the Giallorossi Tifosi. The Stadio Olimpico is a great stadium to
watch football in and the home fans bought their singing voices in support of
their beloved team. A European
six-pointer.
Spalletti; with a full deck;
Mancini’s suspension aside; to pick from; still rings the changes; likely the
previous game last Wednesday and the game this Wednesday on his mind. Doni keeps goal with a back four of Cicinho,
Ferrari, Mexes and Tonetto. Aquilani is
welcomed with a start alongside De Rossi with Taddei, Vucinic and Giuly strung
out behind Totti. It’s a very fluid 4 5
1 formation (or 4 2 3 1 if you want to be picky).
Prandelli is buoyant from a job
well done in Europe and has the Blues to contemplate plus a midweek clash with Livorno to consider as well. He has more injuries and suspensions to
handle and picks a recombobulated side.
Frey is fit to keep goal, the
back four sees Ujfalusi and Gobbi wide with Gamberini and Kroldrup in the
middle. Kuzmanovic, Jorgenson and
Montolivo make up the midfield with Mutu spearheading a front three which
includes Semioli on the right and Vieri on the left.
La Viola start with intent and a
bit of fire, the fire is returned and Ferrari and Vieri start a game long
tussle.
Semioli is the key with Tonetto
defending slackly and allowing the wide man space to put in crosses. Gamberini forces a fine save from Doni on
three minutes, Mutu eschews a much easier chance, Mutu jumps ahead of the
better placed Gamberini and has his header cleared.
Roma aren’t being outplayed so
much as sitting back and absorbing pressure, they love to attack quickly and
from deep.
Crosses are a staple in the Viola
armoury; with Vieri not exactly mobile and Mutu often pushed wide the lack much
of a target.
Roma’s quick breaking sees’ Totti
win a foul and his quick free kick sees Vucinic spurn a chance with a levered
strike which goes well above the bar.
Twenty minutes in and Roma are
asserting themselves with good pressure.
They use the ball and space so beautifully at time with a cavalcade of
slick passing, mobile players and not really too much to trouble Frey. Totti gets free but scuffs his shot with too
much time to think about what he wants to do with the ball.
When La Viola do break Roma surge
back in numbers, at one point stifling the attack and regaining possession with
seven players and the ‘keeper in the area.
The dominant Roma midfield keeps
possession well and forces the odd aimless hoof from Fiorentina, still the
Giallorossi don’t really trouble Frey.
Cicinho comes closest but as a
result of a clearance not some slick passage of play, Frey’s hands are stung
but he stays firm.
Disaster strikes Prandelli’s side
when Mutu evades the Roma offside trap.
One on one with Doni he goes wide but the astute Doni keeps his feet and
times his challenge well; he wins the ball although his momentum sweeps Mutu
awkwardly off his feet. Mutu’s left knee
is not well and he is replaced by Papa Wiago.
The new signing forces Prandelli into changing to a 4 5 1.
Spalletti must have lit a fire
under the hairy Montenegrin’s arse at half time as Vucinic, pushed wider on the
left plays like a man possessed.
Prandelli and his number two must
have talked fashion and football as Fiorentina don’t come out hard as they did
in the first half.
Vucinic runs at Fiorentina and
terrorizes Ujfalusi with his pace and directness. His run and shot forces another good save
from Frey.
Fiorentina step it up some and
try to utilize the space left by Roma’s pressing, this works well although
Vieri needs to be in the middle and not making poor crosses from wide
left.
The game heats up and flows
faster from end to end until Roma make the vital breakthrough, well Vucinic’s
vim, verve and pace create the breakthrough.
Ujfalusi needs help and Gamberini
keeps being pulled wide to provide it.
Roma are on the front foot and a ball from De Rossi out to Vucinic pulls
the defenders wide, his pace and touch allow him to make space for a shot, one
deflection takes it into the path of three Roma players and Cicinho is cool
enough to finish past a well stranded Frey.
Fiorentina’s response is only a
moment or two in coming.
Montolivo; playing inside more
now; finds Papa Wiago on the right, the Senegalese pass inside finds Kuzmanovic
and the youngster takes paint off the crossbar with Doni statuesque or
positionally challenged.
Normalcy soon returns to the
Stadio Olimpico and Vucinic continues his campaign of terror against Ujfalusi
and this time the entire Fiorentina defence is static and the ball behind them
finds Totti who forces yet another great save from the much talked about
Frey.
Roma; as is their wont; seem to
be incapable of stuffing the game down their opponents throats and start to
ease of the gas, they sit deeper and deeper and let Fiorentina have more of the
ball. La Viola can’t really do much with
it so maybe the tactic is sound.
Numerous substitutions change the
complexion of the game after the hour as Roma go more defensive and Fiorentina
form up in a 4 4 2.
Roma defend well and Fiorentina
miss the sheer Mutuness of their inured Romanian stri
